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October 22, 2025 (shared to campus in Whitman Today)

While the 2025–2026 academic year is in full swing, an exciting new initiative is taking root on campus—the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Campus Framework Plan (CFP). This ambitious, forward-looking effort aims to shape the physical landscape of our college for the next 10–20 years, ensuring our campus continues to serve as a vibrant and adaptable home for learning, living and discovery.

What is a Campus Framework Plan?

At its core, the CFP is a comprehensive master plan that goes beyond simply building new structures. It’s a strategic roadmap for our physical campus assets, considering everything from the utilization and life-cycle costs of our facilities to how our spaces can better support our evolving academic and community needs. This isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it’s about creating a campus environment that fosters collaboration, enhances the student experience and strengthens our community.

This summer, the project began with a thorough assessment of campus structures, including Borleske Stadium and the Whitman Sports Complex. This deep dive into our existing conditions—understanding the current state and usage of our facilities—is a crucial first step. By taking a full inventory of what we have and how it’s used, we can plan for a future that is both flexible and makes the highest and best use of our valuable campus resources. This work is being meticulously conducted by a consultant team led by DLR Group, a national leader in campus planning, and guided by a Project Executive Task Force comprised of Board Members Peter Lewis and Drew Shoals, Vice President for Finance and Administration Jeff Hamrick, Provost Elisabeth Mermann-Jozwiak, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Steve Setchell, Vice President for Student Affairs Kazi Jashua, Assistant Vice President for Facilities Services Tony Ichsan, the Raymond and Elsie DeBurgh Chair of Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology Michelle Janning, and student representatives Valentina Garcia-Charles ’27 and Benjamin Davis ’27. 

Guiding Principles: A Compass for Our Future

The vision for the CFP is being shaped by a set of preliminary guiding principles, developed with guidance from the Executive Leadership Team. These principles serve as a compass, ensuring that every decision is aligned with our college’s values and long-term goals. They are designed to enhance our campus community in meaningful ways:

• Define Campus Edges as Active Transitions & Establish Clear Gateway(s):
  This is about creating a more welcoming and cohesive campus, with a clear “front door” that makes a memorable first impression for visitors and a smooth transition for our community members.
• Establish a Centralized Campus Hub:
  Imagine a “one stop shop” for student services, a central hub that simplifies administrative processes and creates a more integrated and accessible experience for all students.
• Create Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Collaboration:
  The plan seeks to design spaces that naturally bring together students and faculty from different divisions, fostering spontaneous connections and innovative partnerships that are central to a liberal arts education.
• Identify a Central Campus Heart:
  The goal is to create a dynamic, central living/learning community hub that serves as the heart of campus life, a place where students can gather, socialize and engage beyond the classroom.

The Value of This Effort: A Positive Impact on Our Community

The Campus Framework Plan is not just a facilities plan; it’s a community-building exercise. By engaging with the various Cabinet divisional program/department leadership, students, faculty and staff, we are ensuring that the future of our campus reflects the needs and aspirations of the very people who bring it to life. This collaborative process ensures that the positive impact of this effort will be felt across all aspects of the Whitman experience:

• For Students:
  The plan will directly enhance the student journey, creating more effective and convenient access to services, new spaces for collaboration and a more vibrant social and academic core.
• For Faculty & Staff:
  By identifying opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and modernizing facilities, the CFP will support innovative teaching, research and administrative work, making our campus an even more effective and inspiring place to work.
• For the Community:
  A more cohesive, accessible and inviting campus benefits everyone. It strengthens our connection to the Walla Walla community and reinforces Whitman’s role as a leader in liberal arts education.

How You Can Get Involved

Your voice is critical to this process. The project team is committed to a collaborative approach, and discussions with leadership, faculty, staff and students will continue through the early spring.

Upcoming opportunities:

• Two town hall meetings are scheduled on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. (for faculty) and 4 p.m. (for staff) in Olin Auditorium. These meetings are opportunities to hear directly from the project team and provide feedback. Additional sessions will be scheduled in February.

The CFP is being led by a multi-disciplinary team of experts, including the DLR Group, landscape architects from Berger Partnership (known for their work on our campus), and transportation experts from Fehr & Peers. The team also includes mechanical and electrical expertise from MW Engineers, who are simultaneously leading the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Energy Renewal and Decarbonization Plan (ERDP)—a testament to our commitment to both our physical and environmental future.

The Campus Framework Plan is an investment in our shared future. It is a chance to build on Whitman’s rich history and create a campus that is more resilient, collaborative and inspiring for generations to come. We encourage everyone to get involved and help us draft this exciting new chapter for ³Ô¹ÏÍø.

Tony Ichsan
Assistant Vice President for Facilities Services